Business FAQ
Get started
Getting ready for a career in business analytics?
Use this guide's sections to walk through the research process, demonstrate your skills, and find work understanding data--or get a quick start with the suggestions below.
Develop research questions
Get inspiration:
- Analytics at Wharton ProjectsScroll down the page for a list of present and past funded projects. Expand each to find researchers and a project description.
Find data
- WRDS (Wharton Research Data Services)Proprietary business and finance data from providers such as S&P. Select and use data through the web interface, via statistical software integrations, or on the WRDS cloud servers. Requires registration.
- data.worldFind data and begin exploring/analyzing. After logging in (registration required), use the main search box.
Get software
Try these versatile, widely-used software packages:
- Microsoft ExcelUse a graphical interface to enter, view, and edit tabular data. The software emphasizes displaying data and formulaic calculations in addition to supporting visualization, analysis, and automation.
- AnacondaFree software package that includes Python, R, and Jupyter Notebook
Showcase your skills
- KaggleCompanies and organizations post analysis challenges. You can compete by using provided data to develop and submit your own solution.
- Analytics Accelerators"Broaden your analytics skillset through a monthlong experiential learning project and work with actual companies using real-world datasets"
- Wharton Analytics Fellows"Wharton Analytics Fellows is a highly selective fellowship program that allows motivated Wharton... students to put their analytics skills to the test in the real world. Fellows consult for our clients on their toughest data science problems, building them predictive models and presenting their findings to senior leadership."
Explore careers
- Career ServicesPenn Career Services offers appointments, career fairs, and resume reviews to help you explore opportunities and start your career.
- Occupational Outlook HandbookBy the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Find salary benchmarks and job outlook information using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system.
